Dedicated to Joanie Dunne and all the moms who have passed away that will never, ever be forgotten.
.
After raking in a wad of cash from my 750 aunts and uncles for my first communion in second grade, I went with my mom to make a deposit at our local bank.
My mom and I were standing at the teller’s window. This guy, with a tie knot that was too big, asked my mom what her occupation was.
My mom, Joanie Dunne, said, “I’m just a housewife.”
It was the just that hit me.
I chimed in, “She’s my mother.”
He gave me that smirky, condescending look where he was really saying, “You get a gold star for figuring that out.”
I didn’t have the confidence, or permission, or biceps to explain what I meant, so I just pulled out my money and put it on the counter.
It’s taken a long time to really know what I was trying to tell that man…
It’s taken a lifetime.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to "Jimmy Dunne Says" to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.